New Research in the History of Western Philosophy – serie

The articles in The Modern Experience of the Religious, edited by Nassim Bravo and Jon Stewart, explore the many ways in which religion was impacted by the emergence of modernity, particularly after the Enlightenment, which underscored the centrality of human reason and thus called into question traditional forms of religiosity. Modernity raised several questions that are studied by the authors of this volume: What should be the role of religion in a secular or pluralistic society? How does the human being relate to God? Can instituted religion be compatible with modern values such as civil liberties, pluralism or environmentalism?

This book is a philosophical-historical examination of the influence of the knowledge of China imparted by the Jesuits on the thinking of the German Enlightenment in the 18th century. It is not primarily concerned with a comprehensive reconstruction of the philosophy of the thinkers discussed, but rather with the political and intellectual contextualisation of a line of thought that recognised the practical philosophy and state organisation of China as different from that of Europe, while equal to it and in some respects superior to it. This challenged the claim of theology that Christian revelation alone provided access to truth. The volume analyses the opposition to this line of thought, especially on the part of Protestant orthodoxy. It argues that in the German Enlightenment of the 18th century, the possibility emerged to conceive philosophy on the basis of reason as a phenomenon not limited to Europe but as a path followed under different conditions in China.

This book reconstructs the intense early post-Kantian debate on freedom of the will, choice, and moral imputability for the first time. It addresses the following questions: How is freedom of choice possible given the causal predetermination of the world? How can we escape skepticism about freedom of the will? What are the characteristics of moral freedom? Are we free to act immorally, and if so, how exactly? And finally: How can we conceive of our individual freedom as being compatible with nature and society?

It is extremely difficult to seek new paths in the twilight of our former idols, ideals and visions of a happy and successful life. The authors of the book invite the reader to embark on this journey in a free-spirited manner and to look at the challenges posed by the new climate regime from different perspectives. Whether one accepts the concept of the Anthropocene as a starting point, or rather as an opportunity for constructive criticism, readers will be fully engaged by thinking through historical-philosophical, scientific, political, social, as well as educational problems.

With figures such as Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Feuerbach, Marx, Engels, and Nietzsche, the nineteenth century was a dynamic time of philosophical development. The period made lasting contributions to several fields of philosophy. Moreover, it paved the way for the development of the social sciences at the turn of the twentieth century. This volume is dedicated to exploring the rich tradition of nineteenth-century Continental philosophy in its different areas with the main purpose of highlighting the importance of this tradition in the development of the leading streams of thought of the twentieth and twenty-first century.

The Ungraspable as a Philosophical Problem provides an analysis of the ungraspable—of that which cannot be grasped by the mind or the senses. When referring to the ungraspable in sensible reality, we often speak of the “untouchable,” the “invisible,” the “inaudible,” and the “untastable.” In the abstract realm, we speak of the “non-conceptual,” the “ineffable,” the “unsayable.” These are the modalities of the ungraspable that are explored in this study. They have been considered absolute by some thinkers, a claim that I critically assess. My central claim is that the absoluteness of these modalities is linked to a desire to grasp, which is characterized by the desire for exactitude, for the proper, and for domination. First, I examine the role of the hand in phenomenology, more precisely in Martin Heidegger’s philosophy, in order to further define the notion of the ungraspable. I then analyze Emmanuel Levinas’s early works, which offer an account of the ungraspability of nature (the there is). I then turn to Jacques Derrida, who has proved that otherness is not only human but also animal and theoretical, but who devotes little space to the otherness of the more-than-human, or inorganic objects. Finally, I examine the otherness of so-called inorganic or more-than-living objects (natural objects and artifacts), demonstrating its importance to our current situation.

This biography explores the captivating life of Roman Witold Ingarden, a key figure in 20th-century philosophy. In this first English-language biography of the Polish philosopher, readers will discover the struggles and triumphs of a man shaped by mentors such as Husserl and Twardowski, navigating a turbulent world: Part 1: In the Masters’ Shadow covers the period up to the outbreak of World War II. Drawing on unpublished archival materials, the book unveils lesser-known facets of Ingarden’s life—from his youthful passions to his academic challenges. Written in an accessible style, it invites scholars and general readers alike to connect with Ingarden as both a philosopher and a relatable human being.

This book examines the philosophical foundations on which Ernst Cassirer bases the central themes of his thought, namely function and the symbolic, establishing as the core inquiry the way in which knowledge of the singular is made possible. Through an exploration of works published between 1898 and 1917, it is argued that knowledge is constituted as a relationship between unity and a general form that enables the designation of a phenomenon as an object of knowledge. The justification that the universal is the foundation of the singular can be achieved through Cassirer’s philosophy, while also providing a fundamental reason for studying his early philosophical period.

This volume explores two fundamental questions. The first concerns the essence of the hero and the nature of heroic action. The second question has to do with the cultural role of the hero. This is an issue worth discussing, inasmuch as heroes often represent the worldview of a culture. The authors of this anthology contribute from their area of expertise to the analysis of these questions. The volume is divided into four thematic sections—classical studies, philosophical anthropology, philosophy of religion, and myth-criticism—each representing different philosophical approaches from which the figure of the hero can be explored.

This volume proposes a novel approach to engaging philosophically with disability studies. Taking as a starting point the fact that disability is an integral part of human existence, the chapters in this volume provide insight into situated, lived experiences of disability in articulation with prominent existential philosophers. Historical and theoretical perspectives bring the dominant models of understanding disability today (medical or biomedical and social) into dialogue with existential philosophical perspectives, and thematic contributions provide insight into specific disabled experiences which have historically been underrepresented in philosophy, including mental illness, addiction, severe cognitive/intellectual disability, ADHD, autism, and neurodivergent communication.

Why does Kierkegaard’s thought remain vital in French philosophy and theology? Kierkegaard in France traces the dynamic evolution of Kierkegaard’s reception from the early 20th century to contemporary debates on faith, ethics, and individuality. His influence on French thought is examined anew with regard to well-known thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, and Paul Ricœur, as well as readings that have largely been overlooked, like those by Simone de Beauvoir and Vladimir Jankélévitch. From existentialism and phenomenology to poststructuralism and feminism, Kierkegaard continues to be an essential interlocutor in shaping the ‘continental’ tradition of thought in France.There is a natural affinity between Kierkegaard’s uniquely intense, subjectively-involved metaphysical realism and the French spiritualisttradition which eschews both idealism and reductive empiricism. This book brings out that affinity and displays it in all the variety ofits manifestations, both religious and secular, both speculative and existentialist. An indispensable and monumental entry for scholars andintriguing read for a wider audience.—Catherine Pickstock, Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity, University of CambridgeAs this outstanding collection shows, Kierkegaard’s French readers have produced a series of brilliant insights that extend and challenge the interpretation of his work, often thinking ‘with’ Kierkegaard as much as ‘about’ him. This is a state-of-the-art volume that will also provide a valuable resource for students at all levels for many years to come.—George Pattison, University of Glasgow

This book presents a new reading of Hegel’s philosophy of religion, focusing on the mediating role of habit between nature and spirit. It explores how the death of the animal becomes central to the emergence of spirit and how religious practice (cultus) functions as a habitual form of reconciliation. Engaging Hegel’s Encyclopedia, Phenomenology of Spirit, and Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion, it situates these questions within debates in postcolonial studies, critical animal theory, and philosophy of religion. The result is a vital contribution to Hegel scholarship and contemporary reflections on (post-)humanity, animality, and religion.

Drawing on the collective expertise of an impressive group of international scholars, this book delivers a comprehensive reckoning of the rich, multivalent legacy of the noted scholar and critic Robert B. Pippin. As presented by the contributors to this edited volume, Pippin’s distinctive approach to modern philosophy, politics, art, and culture is seen to establish the definitive scholarly agenda for the next century of philosophical research.

Descartes: The Story of a Mind offers a rigorous, historically grounded reappraisal of René Descartes’s intellectual development. Rejecting fixed labels and anachronistic formulae, Mori portrays a thinker in motion—shaped by uncertainty, dialogue, and evolving contexts. Drawing on lesser-known texts, correspondences, and polemics, the book foregrounds the fragmentary, dialectical nature of Descartes’s philosophy. From early influences to the unity expressed in the tree of knowledge, the book reconstructs a dynamic Cartesian trajectory that bridges metaphysics, science, and ethics, revealing a mind perpetually negotiating its boundaries amid the shifting debates of the seventeenth century.

The traditions of Marxism, Anarchism, Existentialism, and Critical Theory all make use of the concepts of revolt, rebellion, and revolution. Despite this, these concepts are not always recognized as important philosophical concepts. In our contemporary world, we witness a growing polarization within society and an increase in intolerance, accompanied by the demonization of “the other.” This situation is exacerbated by the widespread dissemination of misinformation and conspiracy theories, which fuel feelings of anger and alienation. As a result, rebellion emerges as an increasingly popular method for individuals to express their frustrations, often at the expense of their communities. This anthology addresses this pressing issue by examining the meaning of the concepts of revolt, rebellion, and revolution from various philosophical perspectives, drawing on a wide range of thinkers. It seeks to tackle several critical questions, such as: What is the role of rebellion in resolving human conflict? What distinguishes legitimate from illegitimate forms of revolt? What significance does revolt play in history and in the lives of individuals? And does the concept of revolution retain its relevance today, or should it be consigned to the history of ideas?

This book explores the ethical tradition of eudaimonism, which considers happiness or flourishing as (a) partly objective or naturalistic, (b) partly subjective or affective, (c) structurally stable, and (d) the highest good. It examines the insights of Aristotle, Epicurus, the Stoics, and Spinoza concerning the respective roles of pleasure, virtue, and mind and body in living an eudaimonistically happy life. Spinoza offers an especially rich account of happiness, in opposition to the intellectualism of his fellow eudaimonists, through his argument for non-reductive mind-body identity, which entails that flourishing is equally intellectual and physical in nature.